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MAN UP looking for parade, Derby ambassadors

Forty-two ambassadors volunteered at Thunder Over Louisville on April 11 and roamed the waterfront in bright yellow shirts, warning groups of kids that they were watching and would report back to police.

A local youth mentoring group is looking for 40 adults to help keep an eye on youth during the Pegasus Parade and possible Kentucky Derby weekend cruising.

“Derby City Ambassadors” will be on hand to diffuse any conflicts that may arise and report any crime to police, according to a news release from Service for Peace, an international organization that involves volunteers in ongoing community development programs. MAN UP, a youth mentoring group, is partnering with Mayor Greg Fischer and Louisville Metro Police.

Forty-two ambassadors volunteered at Thunder Over Louisville on April 11 and roamed the waterfront in bright yellow shirts, warning groups of kids that they were watching and would report back to police.

“We were kind of the eyes and ears for LMPD,” said Peter Hayes, vice president of Service for Peace.

A handful of rambunctious kids were asked to settle down during Thunder, but there were no other youth problems.

Hayes said the initiative began in response to last month’s downtown mob violence and he hopes it will continue to grow.

Extra attention has been paid to city youths after a band of teenagers who had been at the waterfront on March 22 attacked a 13-year-old girl because they wanted her sneakers. A 40-year-old man came to her defense and was pummeled by the mob.